Dragon in the Mist

The year is 880, King Alfred successfully defeated the heathen army led by Jarl Guthrum. With a peace treaty not yet ratified, Mercia and Wessex as well as Mercia and East Anglia live in a sense of uneasy peace. Jarl Guthrum rules over East Anglia, which is now known as Danelaw, the same man who led the heathen army, and who is now a Christian. England is set in turmoil because of the consistent raiding and fighting along her borders. While there is an uncertain peace between Alfred’s Wessex and Guthrum’s Danelaw, there is still raiding from the Norse Vikings. In order to provide protection for his kingdom Alfred begins building fortified settlements across the land as well as developing his own navy. In the middle of all this upheaval and raids is a young lord name Wulfric and his frons Acca, Raulf, and Brother Cahir. Wulfric sets himself on a series of adventures that will take him away from his privileged, comfortable life and throws him into one with violence, treachery, betrayal, and even love. Throughout this experience he learns what it means to be a man as he shifts from a young boy into a young man. A transition that is both swift and terrifying. His adventures get more exciting once he helps save a young Norse lord and his friend, Alrik and Arnkell, from the wrath of Alrik’s father.

Dragon in the Mist is a coming of age novel which takes fictional elements and molds them with some historical aspects to create a fantastic story of a young boy learning the hardships of life and who he really is. There are a lot of interesting things happening throughout the novel, not just Wulfric’s adventures but also the viewpoints of religion, military strategies, relationship bonds, and so much more. No matter your age in reading this book, there is something for everyone to take away from it. While it gives some insight to like in the 9th century, it is highly entertaining to read. Readers will be subjected to losing sleep just to finish this novel. Caine keeps the language and actions of his characters in the time period, he doesn’t bring anything modern into his story which just drags readers into his world.

When you pick up this book, what you will get is a thrilling ride as you follow Wulfric on his adventures and experiences hardships that begin to mold him into a new person. We watch as he transforms from what seems as a spoiled kid into a mature man determined to do what it takes to do the right thing. He is relatable and an interesting character to follow along with. Caine presents his readers with a story that not only captivates and engages his audience, but also teaches them something new and gives them something more to think about. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good coming of age story, historical fiction and anyone who is looking to step outside of the normal genre. This book has something for everyone in it and deserves to be read.

"'This may be an ending, but we are sailing towards a new beginning, my lord.'"

Wolfric is a young man approaching adulthood in 9th century England. His father is Earldoman Hrothwulf, a respected landowner in the coastal areas of Wessex, and so Wolfric grows up familiar with power and privilege while still remaining kind and considerate. Norse raiders arrive in the nearby port of Oxtun under the leadership of the jarl’s son, Alrik, and havoc ensues when the war leader goes rogue and decides to loot and pillage the town. This singular decision sets in motion a series of events that will define the political landscape of the country. Hrothwulf and his men arrive to defend the survivors and drive the raiders off, while Wolfric meets Alrik and learns the true reason of the Norsemen’s arrival: to negotiate a treaty with England that trades land and protection for a Navy to use against invaders.

Using actual history as a backdrop, Caine weaves through multiple perspectives in the same scene to tell a riveting tale of historical fiction. While the story primarily follows Wolfric and his peers, the narrative quickly jumps from storyteller to storyteller to fit the setting and action. There is plenty of historical detail that will engage and delight any history buff, all of which blends seamlessly with the fictitious characters, events, and locations. Unlike many books that deal with similar content, the story here is largely political and interpersonal, focusing on history at an individual level rather than providing a bird’s-eye view of battlefield carnage. In this approach, even the moments that involve bloodshed do so in a way that gives each soldier’s life and death a sense of gravity. Giving life to events that took place over a millennium ago is a challenging prospect, but with strong characters and intriguing tension, this accomplished novel draws the reader in immediately.